Couple convicted in forgery case

Judge I S Anti  sentenced   Esther Martha Leela and Jayaprabhu to two year  simple imprisonment and slammed a  fine of Rs 40,000 and Rs 35,000 respectively.

In the event of default, Leela will have to four months SI while will have to three month SI.  Leela was an upper division clerk with  Regional Provident Fund Organisation from 1995-97, while her husband Jayaprabhu was working for M/s Subbulakshmi Security and Clearing Services, Ganganagar, Bangalore.

He was also a provident fund consultant for the same firm. The couple entered into a
criminal conspiracy in the matter of making fraudulent claims.

Jayaprabhu had submitted a claim at the office of the regional provident fund commissioner on January 1, 1996. The claim was processed by Leela and two cheques for a total of Rs 10, 563 were issued. Jayaprabhu encashed the cheques by opening a SB account at Mahila Cooperative Bank, Ganganagar.

Similarly, Jayaprabhu submitted 22 claims which were processed by his wife. The cheques were encashed in a similar way. Thus, the couple had taken away Rs 1,96,673 by impersonation and forgery.

Following the incident, a criminal case was registered on January 9, 1998 and the chargesheet before the court on June 30, 1998.